2021 Highs and Lows
2021. Thud. It was a year when things went wrong at the Canberra Raiders. Terribly wrong. The Green Machine was expected by many to finish in the top four, and to again challenge for a long awaited premiership. At the very least, most expected the Raiders would be a top eight side and playing finals football. Instead, Canberra finished in 10th, and with a whimper in the final round of the season.
More: 2021 Season Review
Every year, the readers of The Greenhouse vote on the highs and lows of the season just past. The Players of the Year are determined by the Fans' Choice voting through the year, but all the other categories are determined by end of season Fans’ Choice polls. As the results of the polls come through, we'll report them here! We will be kicking off with your choice for Rookie of the Year!
Players of the Year
Jordan Rapana took out the Canberra Raiders Fans' Choice Award for 2021. That made Rapana the Back of the Year, while Josh Papalii was the Forward of the Year.
Rookie of the Year
Centre Matt Timoko has taken the 2021 Canberra Raiders Fans' Choice Rookie of the Year, with 56 per cent of the vote. He made seven appearances at centre, with two from the bench. He edged out fellow centre Harley Smith-Shields, who made seven appearances on the wing in season 2021.
Matt Timoko (Debut: 2020 Round 16 V Bulldogs, two 2020 matches 2021 record: Nine appearances, two try assists, 33 tackle breaks, one line break, 111 running metres and 16 tackle breaks per match, 89 per cent tackle efficiency)
Best win
2021 Round 19: Canberra Raiders 12 - Parramatta Eels 10. It was committed. It was determined. It was courageous. The Raiders came to tackle - and produced one of their greatest defensive performances. The intent, the aggression and the line speed was like it was in 2019. The Eels had a mountain of possession and territory in the first half, but the Raiders withstood every challenge - with the teams going to the break at nil all. The possession didn't swing in the second half like it often does. But the Raiders simply had more desire to win. Once they took the lead in the second half they never surrendered it. Read more
Worst loss
2021 Round 16: Gold Coast Titans 44 - Canberra Raiders 6. The Raiders produced one of their worst performances in many years in going down to the Titans at Canberra Stadium in Round 16. There was no other word for it, than diabolical. The Titans had their biggest ever win and equalled their highest ever points tally. It was the Raiders' biggest loss since the 54-12 drubbing at the hands of the Warriors in Auckland back in 2014. The Titans came into the match sitting in 13th place on the competition ladder. The effort was not there. Too many players showed little enthusiasm and a lack of pride in the jersey. Read more
Best moment
Last gasp Rapana tackle wins in clash with Eels: Round 19. The best moment of the year came in the dying stages of the best win. With the game in the balance Eels winger Maika Sivo charged towards the corner. But a last gasp try saver from Jordan Rapana and Harley Smith-Shields delivered a two point victory. They simply did whatever it took to win.
The narrow runner up was:
Savage debut: Xavier Savage was injected into his first NRL game against the Dragons in Round 15, when he was the 18th man. However, he was illegally used by the Raiders, and he had to come off after just 11 minutes. His embrace with his mother after leaving the field was a touching moment. The NRL ruled it was not an official appearance. That had to wait for the Round 17 clash with the Sea Eagles. He then put on a show the next week against the Sharks. The speed and skill he demonstrated at fullback really excited Raiders fans. And gave them some reason for hope. Sadly, injury intervened.
Worst moment
Homesick George Williams released: In late May, homesick English half, George Williams was released by the club, after several weeks of public conjecture about his desire to leave the club early. The loss of the club's first choice No. 7 midway through the season was a blow from which the team could not recover.
Try of the Year
Round 18: Jack Wighton: Xavier Savage's stepping and running was a feature of his breakout NRL match... and set up a fantastic try for Jack Wighton early in the second half.
Tackle of the Year
Round 22: Jack Wighton: Jack Wighton was back to his best in this clash with the Storm. Three try assists for three tries for Bailey Simonsson. But he also produced a great tackle, just before half time, on Dean Ieremia. He just smashed him.
2021 Highs and Lows
Moderator: GH Moderators
Re: 2021 Highs and Lows
Well this will be a short thread when it comes to highs. Eels game. That's about all I can recall.
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Re: 2021 Highs and Lows
Can we just please leave 2021 alone to die in the woods.
WHAT A LONG STRANGE TRIP IT'S BEEN
Re: 2021 Highs and Lows
And there we have it... all the highs and lows of 2021 determined!